Improvement in coating metals



UNIT D STATES PA EN O FICE.

SELAH HILER, or HAVERSTRAW, AssIcNoR ITO JOHN M. up connnmus A. BERRIAn, or NEW YORK. N. Y. y

IMPROVEMENT IN COATING META-LS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. SL797, dated October 12, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SELA H HILER, of Haverstraw, in thecounty of Rockland and Stateof New York, United States of America, have invented and made a certain new and useful improvement in. the method of coating iron and steel withsilver, copper, and brass, or any alloy where silver or copper is used; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention. In the manufacture of stair-rods, buttons, trunknails, trunkbands, mats for photographs, door-mountings, and various other articles, brass or other ornamental metal has generally beenused, which .of itself is either made sufficiently thick to possess the required strength, or else a thinner sheet of brass is drawn tightly over a mold or formof iron or anew method of coating iron or steel with sili ver, copper, or brass, or any alloy where silver or copper is used, whereby the two metals become so united that they can be rolled, hammered, drawn, or otherwise worked without causing their separation.

In order to coat iron or steel with silver or copper or their alloys, various methods have heretofore been pursued. The iron has been cleaned and dipped cold, and also when heated, into the melted coating metal; but the coating thus obtainedis not sufficiently amal gamatedor united with the iron to adhere to the same when rolled, hammered, or otherwise worked. Two plates or bars of metal have been cleaned and brought into contact, and then heated until the coating metal has melted and the two become united. This last operation, however, it is believed has never been success-- fully practiced, so as to introduce metal thus prepared into public use, probably on account of the air remaining between the surfaces causing oxidation and preventing a perfect union. 1

I have discovered that the best union ofthc iron or steel with its coating metal can be made by heating the iron or steel until it is fused,

and bringing it wliilein that condition in con- .tact with the coating metal, and keeping it so in contact until both metals havebecome cooled to a proper temperature. I accomplish this bytaking a bar of common good wrought-iron and cutting it up into pieces weighing from four to eight pounds, the particular'size not being material. I then place these pieces into a suit: able crucible, preferring that known kind in the arts as a black-lead crucible. I then add with the iron anyknown flux, generally using borax, in the proportion of aboutoue'quarter.

' ,of heat for the space of from two to three hours,

when the iron will become melted and capable of being poured as a liquid, and by placing the coating metal in a mold having a space left therein to receive the iron or steel in a melted state, the same being poured into the said space in contactwith the said coatiug'mctal,

whereupon the coating metal .will be fused by the heat of themetal to be coated, and by al= "lowing them to remain in contact until both have become hard by cooling, it will be found that they have becomeso firmly united that they may be hammered, rolled, drawn, or

otherwise worked without causing their sepa= ration. On the melted iron being poured into the mold in contact with the coating metal, the latter becomes fused by the heat of the former; but before it is so fused the iron has parted with so much of its heat as to be sufficient-ly chilled to prevent the coating metal from mixing with the iron, and also to prevent the said coating metal from sinking down and occupying the bottom of the mold. When steel is to be coated, it may be treated in the same manner in which I treat the wroughtviron, except that it will be found that a less degree of heat will suffice to melt it.

In caseI wish to make an iron or steel wire covered with the coating metal, I take a tube composed of the coating metal, place it ina heat of the iron orstoel, and, coolinga sufficient time for both to become hard, they arefirmly united, and then may be rolled. or drawn out into. wire perfectly covered with the coating: metal and of such size as may be desired. The manner of constructing molds in which said metal is coated maybe varied and adapted to any particular purpose desired The method also or melting or pouring the iron or steelmay be varied to suit t-hearticle required to be made.

I do not claim heating the iron or steel to be coated with brass, copper, silver, or other metals or alloys of metals to a white or-welding heat, that having been done before; but

- What I'claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The coating iron or steel'wlth,copper,,silver, or brass, or alloys where silver or copper-1s used,- by bringing the iron or steel,wh1le in a incited state, into contact'with'the coating metal, and"allowing them to so remain until the two metals have become hard by cooling, substantially as specified.

s. ILER.

1n presence of- MILES B. ANDREW, MELVILLE V. BIGGS. 

